[54411]

About 6 months ago I bought a new Series 2 dual tuner with 3 year's prepaid service. I recently switched to Directivo. I need to sell it.

Does anyone have experience selling these on ebay? I know the only real thing of value on the unit is the prepaid service. Is it easy to transfer the service?

 

[mick66]

Prepaid service is not transferable.

 

[atmuscarella]

mick66 is correct there is no way to transfer prepaid service. Who every was using your TiVo would have to leave it registered in your account to use the prepaid service. Effectively you would have to give them your account - which may be a violation of TiVo's terms of service.

The TiVo itself has very little value - the remaining 2.5 years on your prepaid account is what's valuable. You could find a family member or close friend and let them use it. They might even like it so much that they decide to give you a gift or something.

Good Luck,

 

[bmgoodman]

Prepaid service is not transferable.

I did NOT know this! More crappy "lock in" from Tivo. Every time I turn around, there's some new thing not to like about the way this company is doing business. This irks me like expiring gift certificates. SOMEBODY paid a company money IN ADVANCE for some future consideration, and it really bothers me that they can weasel out of that obligation. And I frankly don't care whether it is part of the terms of service or clearly spelled out. Companies are not charities and this amounts to taking money and giving nothing in return. It shouldn't be legal. :down: :down: :down:

 

[ah30k]

The TiVo will still work, just not be able to be transferred into someone else's account.

 

[ah30k]

Companies are not charities and this amounts to taking money and giving nothing in return. It shouldn't be legal. :down: :down: :down:

I'm sure you are getting exactly what you were told you were getting. If you didn't read the terms that is your problem. Exactly what part should be illegal again?

 

[bmgoodman]

I'm sure you are getting exactly what you were told you were getting. If you didn't read the terms that is your problem. Exactly what part should be illegal again?

Which part was I unclear about? You pay money in advance for something in the future. Then the company to which you paid the money is able to keep your money and give you nothing in return. Giving away money for nothing in return is charity. And for-profit companies are not allowed to accept charitable contributions. Again, this is the same BS that is allowed with gift certificates. There are dozens of gotchas buried in the small print by which these companies do NOT have to give you what you paid for. With the time value of money alone, these companies are already making out by getting your money in advance. Using fine print to reduce or eliminate the value of the "consideration" you've given them SHOULD BE ILLEGAL.

Would you like to buy one of my gift certificates? They come in convenient denominations and bold, beautiful colors. Makes a perfect gift.*

*Not transferable. An account maintenance fee of 15 cents per second applies. Certificates expire 1 week after purchase. Cash value 1/20 of 1 cent.

 

[DeathRider]

Every time I turn around, there's some new thing not to like about the way this company is doing business. This irks me like expiring gift certificates. SOMEBODY paid a company money IN ADVANCE for some future consideration, and it really bothers me that they can weasel out of that obligation.

As for gift certificates, move to a state like Ma, where legally they can't expire (ones you pay for. If it's a promo or rebate, then it can still expire).

As far as your TiVo, what atmuscarella said...

Yes, it would be nice if you could transfer it or cancel it and get a prorated check back, but with DirecTV and their their early Termination fees, is there really difference (other than someone can still use you S2 for another 2.5 years)?

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?assetId=1100106

* You agree to pay for 12 consecutive months (for standard receivers) or 24 consecutive months (for advanced receivers) of a $29.99/mo. or above programming package.
* You agree to pay a $4.99/mo. lease fee for your second and each additional receiver.
* If you do not fulfill your Programming Commitment, DIRECTV may charge you a fee of up to $150 for standard equipment or $300 for advanced receivers.

http://www.rateitall.com/i-26676-directv.aspx
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/cable_tv/directv.htm

So, if you go with D*, you don't own the equipment (which probably would only be a concern for ppl wanting to keep their box/content after sub is up) and technically, if you only do 23 months and cancel, they can still charge you the full $300 for early termination...not saying they would, but they can legally...

But as it says, it may charge you, so maybe they won't after only 6 months of service (most likely won't after 23 months).

The above of course refers to leased equipment. But if you're talking about an old unit you own, not sure what D* msy charge you for early cancellation of service...

 

[kirk1701]

I just got a Tivo HD and I also have a series 2 dual tuner which I am fixing to sell on e-bay. I have about 6 months left on the one year pre-paid service but since I have another series 2 that I am going to keep I am going to transfer the 6 months to it.

Then sell the dual tuner on e-bay.

 

[jtlytle]

How many hours is that?

 

[54411]

Wow! I did not expect so many responses. In fact, I thought it may be such a dumb question I would suffer the wrath!

Thanks for the information. Based on not being able to transfer the prepaid service I think I will just see if a family member would need it. I am a little concerned about selling the unit on ebay if the ownership can not be transferred. I don't want to be liable for someone elses actions with the unit.

Not really sure what those actions might be but it is a little disconcerting.

Thanks again.

 

[megazone]

I did NOT know this! More crappy "lock in" from Tivo. Every time I turn around, there's some new thing not to like about the way this company is doing business.

There may be a work-around.

Since the OP switched to DirecTiVo, is that the only unit on your account? If so, just change all the contact info, remove any payment info, and give the new owner the username and password and ask them to change it once they have it. Bingo, they have your account with all the credit left.

 

[lessd]

There may be a work-around.

Since the OP switched to DirecTiVo, is that the only unit on your account? If so, just change all the contact info, remove any payment info, and give the new owner the username and password and ask them to change it once they have it. Bingo, they have your account with all the credit left.

One small problem is the credit card used to get the service on the TiVo goes with the account that the service was first put on, so at the end of the 3 years TiVo will use that credit card to start charging monthly service and the owner will not have the account information to cancel the service, The way to do this is to sell the TiVo with the remaining service time on it and tell the buyer that they will not be able to use MRV, when the service is up the original owner will cancel (if he remembers) and the new owner can then put the TiVo into his own account. I have done this without a problem as many people don't know what MRV is anyways.
OH!! and changing the Credit will not work well because then the TiVo will get lock up for non payment (TiVo gives service for a month or two without payment before turning the unit off) and the new owner will have to pay money or go into TiVo hell to get the TiVo unlocked.
I know this because I have purchased TiVos (on E-Bay) that are in lock up mode in TiVo hell and had to pay money to TiVo to unlock them, I have gotten the money back from the E-Bay seller who thought just changing the credit card would would mean they would not have to remember when to cancel.
TiVo hell is when you go to activate a TiVo, the TiVo sight tells you the unit is already activated, but the units SI screen tells you the account is closed.

 

[megazone]

Since he have pre-paid service, TiVo should no longer need the credit card number as they do with a monthly bill.

 

[mick66]

Since he have pre-paid service, TiVo should no longer need the credit card number as they do with a monthly bill.

You can change a the CC on file with Tivo, but you can not remove the CC information. TiVo always wants a credit card, so that when the prepay is up they have some way of billing the account and getting their money.

 

[lessd]

Since he have pre-paid service, TiVo should no longer need the credit card number as they do with a monthly bill.

TiVo wants a CC so they can charge at the end of the Prepay and if the card is no longer value the unit goes into TiVo hell, see my post above.

 

[Adam1115]

Prepaid service is not transferable.

I don't see that anywhere in the terms of prepay.. link..?

There may be a work-around.

Since the OP switched to DirecTiVo, is that the only unit on your account? If so, just change all the contact info, remove any payment info, and give the new owner the username and password and ask them to change it once they have it. Bingo, they have your account with all the credit left.

Only if the person buying is going to use it as their one and only tivo...

 

[mick66]

I don't see that anywhere in the terms of prepay.. link..?

https://www3.tivo.com/abouttivo/policies/tivoserviceagreement.html

12. Using the TiVo Service. You may access and use the TiVo service only with a TiVo DVR that is authorized to receive the TiVo service and you agree not to tamper with or otherwise modify your TiVo DVR. Among other things, this means that you may access and use the program guide information only on a TiVo DVR that is authorized to receive it. The TiVo service is provided for your personal, non- commercial use, and may not be resold, in whole or in part. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, you may not transfer the TiVo service. By using the TiVo service, you agree to receive all software updates and upgrades that TiVo sends to your TiVo DVR. If your TiVo DVR accesses the TiVo service (regardless of your payment or subscription status), you acknowledge and agree that you are a user of the TiVo service and are bound by the terms of this Agreement.

 

[megazone]

Only if the person buying is going to use it as their one and only tivo...

You can add more to the account once you have control of it. It would only be an issue if they already had a TiVo account - though I've had no trouble getting Customer Service to merge two accounts in the past.

 

[Adam1115]

https://www3.tivo.com/abouttivo/policies/tivoserviceagreement.html

Except there are exceptions to that...

Lifetime for example can be transferred...